Bob3
Contributor
They don't even make good paper weights. 
Spare Air
- Thread starter islandguy
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Michael Freeman
Contributor
I bought one of the 3.0 cuft ones. I wouldn't call it useless, a spare air will give you enough air to get to the surface, but looking back, I wish I had spent a little more for a pony bottle and reg set up.
I'm a big guy and I get about 30 deep breaths at surface. It would give me more then enough air to swim up from rec depth as long as I was calm and under control (i.e., deep slow breaths), but doubt I would have enough for a 3 min. safety stop.
I'm thinking of getting an AL40 and a good set of regs. I want the extra size so it can do double duty as a deco bottle in the future if I decide to get into those classes.
I'm a big guy and I get about 30 deep breaths at surface. It would give me more then enough air to swim up from rec depth as long as I was calm and under control (i.e., deep slow breaths), but doubt I would have enough for a 3 min. safety stop.
I'm thinking of getting an AL40 and a good set of regs. I want the extra size so it can do double duty as a deco bottle in the future if I decide to get into those classes.
There are a lot of posts on the 'Spare Air' topic you can also search for.
In my opinion, the Spare Air provides a false sense of security and is a waste of money. Better off spending a bit more and getting at least a 19cf pony w/ reg and spg. Can either sling it or mount upside down next to main tank.
In my opinion, the Spare Air provides a false sense of security and is a waste of money. Better off spending a bit more and getting at least a 19cf pony w/ reg and spg. Can either sling it or mount upside down next to main tank.
You would be better off just getting a pony cylinder with a reg. Somewhere between a 13 and 40 cu ft cylinder would do.
I dive with a 30cu ft pony with poseidon xstream reg back mounted onto 100cu ft tank also with poseidon reg. At least I know I have a redundant system if things go bad. I allways have the pony full and turned on during the dive. I treat it just like my 100cu ft tank, i.e it is allways checked pre dive for breathing etc.
I really dont understand peoples dislike of safety equipment and i feel the pony is just that. Hey I dont intent to use my mirror, safety sausage, whistle, strobe or dive alert either but if I ever need it I'm gonna be glad i've got it.
I really dont understand peoples dislike of safety equipment and i feel the pony is just that. Hey I dont intent to use my mirror, safety sausage, whistle, strobe or dive alert either but if I ever need it I'm gonna be glad i've got it.
Spend more time around here and you will begin to see that many of people feel that a back mounted pony is a problem waiting for a solution. Not the other way around as it is intended. It's not that we don't believe in saftey equipement. I carry a backup mask, mirror, shears and SMB in my pockets on every dive.
IMHO: Charged - you don't know if it's leaking since it is out of sight. You may hope that your buddy will see it, but you may have an inattentive buddy. Thus when you need the gas, it won't be there.
You have no way of varifying how much gas you have in a rear mounted pony. A good idea to know when you have it mounted or are breathing off it.
Entrapment is also another issue, but lesser than the above in most rec dives.
Many of us believe that if you are to carry a pony, then sling it. You will always know if it is working and how much psi you have in it.
Bottom line is that many folks on this board are not so much against a pony bottle, just against a rear mount.
Personally I don't believe in them except as a solo configuration or perhaps when diving with a buddy of circumstance. In my book that is a solo dive. I feel that they reinforce poor buddy skills. While everyone says that they don't add them into there gas management plan, I believe that it breeds complacency.
IMHO: Charged - you don't know if it's leaking since it is out of sight. You may hope that your buddy will see it, but you may have an inattentive buddy. Thus when you need the gas, it won't be there.
You have no way of varifying how much gas you have in a rear mounted pony. A good idea to know when you have it mounted or are breathing off it.
Entrapment is also another issue, but lesser than the above in most rec dives.
Many of us believe that if you are to carry a pony, then sling it. You will always know if it is working and how much psi you have in it.
Bottom line is that many folks on this board are not so much against a pony bottle, just against a rear mount.
Personally I don't believe in them except as a solo configuration or perhaps when diving with a buddy of circumstance. In my book that is a solo dive. I feel that they reinforce poor buddy skills. While everyone says that they don't add them into there gas management plan, I believe that it breeds complacency.
hecker-the-wrecker
Guest
I wear a rear mount 40 pony with it's own set of guages. I also have a 19cf pony with the same quick release as my 40. If i'm just piddling around above 50ft, i use the 19cf. Any deeper, i use the 40. (this is just what I do) From what i've seen, if your at 60ft plus, spare air will only give you enough air to prolong your suffering.
Spare air... hmmm... now where did I put that story?
chrisch
Contributor
There's a review here by Brit magazine Diver:
http://www.divernet.com/gear/dtest896.htm#air
Pretty much sums up why this item is totally useless and the idea behind it stupid.
Chris
http://www.divernet.com/gear/dtest896.htm#air
Pretty much sums up why this item is totally useless and the idea behind it stupid.
Chris
For the Cost of a spare air, you can make your own Pony bottle. I purchased mine through my LDS to support it. But on Amazon.com you can get the bottle, & reg for around 250.00. I purchased a 13cf Pony & the Aqua Lung Partner reg. I recently purchased a manifold & bands to make doubles, & I can use the reg on that setup as well. When I use the reg w/ doubles I intend to mount it w/ a drysuit hose.
The whole purpose of the bottle is to get you to the surface, or to your buddy, etc. The point is when you use it is in an emergency so you can get to the surface, not to make a deco stop. If you plan to dive outside the no-deco limits, it probably would be best to go w/ the twin tank setup.
I agree w/ Planter its nice to have a little extra security.
I also am working on becoming an instructor, & thought it might be a good idea to have one to feed to Student/Diver, who looks like they might panic. So that you could stay in better position to do the tank stradle, or more defensible position.
The whole purpose of the bottle is to get you to the surface, or to your buddy, etc. The point is when you use it is in an emergency so you can get to the surface, not to make a deco stop. If you plan to dive outside the no-deco limits, it probably would be best to go w/ the twin tank setup.
I agree w/ Planter its nice to have a little extra security.
I also am working on becoming an instructor, & thought it might be a good idea to have one to feed to Student/Diver, who looks like they might panic. So that you could stay in better position to do the tank stradle, or more defensible position.
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